Loropetalum plant named &#39;Hakuou&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Loropetalum  cultivar named ‘HAKUOU’ is disclosed, characterized by dark green foliage and bright white re-blooming flowers. Plant form is dwarf, rounded, and dense. The new variety is a  Loropetalum , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Loropetalum chinense

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘HAKUOU’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Loropetalum cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Yuji Suzuki, in Kawaguchi City, Saitama,Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newLoropetalum varieties with better foliage color and improved floweringfor ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting in this newvariety was made during Apr. 20, 2005.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, propriety variety referred to asLoropetalum ‘5-7’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietyvariety referred to as Loropetalum ‘ 5-64’. The new variety wasdiscovered in a commercial nursery by the inventor in a group ofseedlings resulting from the 2005 crossing, in Kawaguchi City, Saitama,Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by softwoodcuttings. This was first performed at a commercial nursery in KawaguchiCity, Saitama, Japan, in 2011 and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 5 successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘HAKUOU’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘HAKUOU’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘HAKUOU’ as a new and distinct Loropetalumcultivar:

-   1. Attractive dark green foliage with lighter green new growth.-   2. Very attractive dense rounded habit.-   3. Heavy re-blooming after initial Spring bloom.-   4. Bright white flowers.-   5. Shapely dwarf and dense habit (1-3′ tall).

Plants of the new cultivar ‘HAKUOU’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Loropetalum ‘5-7’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘HAKUOU’ differs in the following;

-   1. Larger flowers.-   2. Ovate foliage. The parent's foliage is more broad ovate.-   3. Mounding growth habit. The parent's growth habit is spreading.-   4. Dark green foliage, holds color well. The parent's foliage is    dark green but can lighten.-   5. Strong re-blooming. The parent variety is slightly re-blooming.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘HAKUOU’ are similar to plants of the pollenparent, Loropetalum ‘5-64’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘HAKUOU’ differs in the following;

-   1. Larger flowers.-   2. Mounding growth habit. The pollen parent growth habit is    spreading.-   3. Dark green foliage, holds color well. The parent's foliage is    dark green but can lighten.-   4. Strong re-blooming. The parent's is slightly re-blooming.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘HAKUOU’ are comparable to the patented,commercial variety Loropetalum ‘Shang-white’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,738.The two Loropetalum varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, the new variety ‘HAKUOU’ differs in thefollowing:

-   1. Shorter habit, 1-3 feet tall. The comparator is 3-4 feet tall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘HAKUOU’ grown in a 1 gallon pot. Age of the plantphotographed is approximately 1 to 2 years old from a rooted cutting.FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the foliage and flowers. Thephotographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘HAKUOU’ plants grown in a greenhouse, inGrand Haven Mich. The growing temperature averaged from 60-65° F. duringthe day and from 40-50° F. during the night. Growing conditions aredouble poly from Fall through Winter heated to 35° F. The poly wasremoved in the Spring. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   -   -   Botanical classification.—Loropetalum ‘HAKUOU’.

-   Propagation:    -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Cutting.        -   Time to initiate roots.—18 days at 27° C.        -   Number of days to produce a rooted liner in summer.—110 days            at 27° C.        -   Root description.—Medium to thick, fibrous, free branching            and fleshy. Roots are tan to white in color.

-   Plant:    -   -   Type of plant.—Perennial shrub.        -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2 years old.        -   Container size of the plant described.—2 gallon.        -   Appropriate containers sizes.—1, 2 and 3 gallon nursery            containers.        -   Growth habit.—Rounded, mounded.        -   Height.—12-24 inches.        -   Plant spread.—36 inches.        -   Growth rate.—Good.        -   Plant vigor.—Good.        -   Branching characteristics.—Lateral, some basal branching.        -   Pinching required.—Yes.        -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Length: 20 cm            Shape: Round Quantity: 14 (in 1 gallon container) Diameter:            2.5 mm Color: Young stems: Near RHS Yellow-green 146B Older            stems: Near RHS Greyed-brown 199A Angle from center: 0-15°            Aspect: Straight Strength: Good.        -   Internode length.—1.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Stem pubescence; more prevalent in younger stems.

-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Alternate, Single Quantity: Approximately            25 per branch. Average Length: 2.75-5.5 cm. Average Width:            1.5-4.0 cm. Shape of blade: Ovate, rounded Tip: Acute Base:            Oblique Margin: Entire Texture of top surface: Slightly            rough due to sparse pubescence. Texture of bottom surface:            Ribbed due to protruding veins and coarse due to moderate            pubescence. Color: Young foliage upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-green 146A with occasional overtones of Greyed-orange            164A. Young foliage under side: Glaucous. Near RHS            Yellow-green 148A. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green            139A. Mature foliage under side: Glaucous. Near RHS            Yellow-green 147A. Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation color            upper side: Midribs and veins are depressed on the upper            side. Color does not differ from the leaf color. Venation            color under side: Midribs and veins are prominent on the            underside. Near RHS Yellow-green 145A Petiole: Length: 0.25            to 0.6 cm Diameter: 1 mm Color: Near RHS Yellow-green 146B            Durability of foliage to stresses: Good

-   Flower:    -   -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Perfect flowers,            comprised of strap-shaped petals, occurring in terminal            (mainly) and axillary (occasionally) umbels        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—3-7.        -   Flower type.—Strap-shape, self-cleaning.        -   Flowering habit.—Re-blooming.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright and outward.        -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—15-25.        -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—50 to 500, depending on            maturity of plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to Fall.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Bud.—Shape: Obovate Length: 4 mm Diameter: 3 mm Color: Near            RHS Yellow-green 145A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: 4 Shape: Linear Margin: Entire            Texture: Smooth, silky Appearance: Strap-shaped, un-fused.            Length: 2.35 cm Width: 2 mm Tip: Truncate Color: When            opening: Upper surface: Near RHS White 155C Lower surface:            Near RHS White 155C Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS            White 155C Lower surface: Near RHS White 155C Petal color            fading to: Near RHS Greyed-yellow 161B (only on tips).        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4 Appearance: Light green            Arrangement: Whorl Shape: Ovate and fused, slightly curled            outward Length: 4 mm Width: 3 mm Tip: Slightly reflexed            Base: Fused Margin: Entire, smooth Color: Immature upper and            lower side: Near RHS Yellow-green 145C Mature upper and            lower side: Near RHS Yellow-green 145C.        -   Calyx.—Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm.

-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 4.        -   Pistil.—Number: 2.

-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Lowest temperature tolerant to.—5 to 10° F.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to            diseases or pets noted to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum plantnamed ‘HAKUOU’ as herein illustrated and described.